A polymorphism within the equine CRISP3 gene is associated with stallion fertility in Hanoverian warmblood horses.
Abstract: Fertility of stallions is of high economic importance, especially for large breeding organisations and studs. Breeding schemes with respect to fertility traits and selection of stallions at an early stage may be improved by including molecular genetic markers associated with traits. The genes coding for equine cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs) are promising candidate genes because previous studies have shown that CRISPs play a role in the fertilising ability of male animals. We have previously characterised the three equine CRISP genes and identified a non-synonymous polymorphism in the CRISP1 gene. In this study, we report one non-synonymous polymorphism in the CRISP2 gene and four non-synonymous polymorphisms in the CRISP3 gene. All six CRISP polymorphisms were genotyped in 107 Hanoverian breeding stallions. Insemination records of stallions were used to analyse the association between CRISP polymorphisms and fertility traits. Three statistical models were used to evaluate the influence of single mutations, genotypes and haplotypes of the polymorphisms. The CRISP3 AJ459965:c.+622G>A SNP leading to the amino acid substitution E208K was significantly associated with the fertility of stallions. Stallions heterozygous for the CRISP3 c.+622G>A SNP had lower fertility than homozygous stallions (P = 0.0234). The pregnancy rate per cycle in these stallions was estimated to be approximately 7% lower than in stallions homozygous at this position.
Publication Date: 2007-04-13 PubMed ID: 17433013DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2007.01594.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper examines the link between a genetic variation in horses and stallion fertility, finding that a specific variation in the CRISP3 gene affects fertility rates in Hanoverian warmblood horses.
Background and Objective
- The researchers started this study due to the high economic importance of stallion fertility, especially for large breeding organizations and studies. Breeding plans and stallion selection at an early stage could potentially be improved with the inclusion of molecular genetic markers associated with traits such as fertility.
- They have focused on genes encoding equine cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs) as these have been shown in previous studies to play a significant role in the ability of male animals to fertilize.
Methods
- In this research, the team had already studied the three equine CRISP genes and found a non-synonymous polymorphism in CRISP1. For this study, their focus was on similar polymorphisms in the CRISP2 and CRISP3 genes.
- They genotyped all six CRISP polymorphisms for 107 Hanoverian breeding stallions and used insemination records to analyse the association between the polymorphisms and fertility traits.
- Three statistical methods were used to evaluate the impact of single mutations, genotypes, and combinations of polymorphisms (haplotypes).
Findings and Conclusions
- The researchers found a significant association between the fertility of stallions and a specific polymorphism, CRISP3 AJ459965:c.+622G>A, which actually leads to a change in an amino acid.
- Interestingly, stallions that had this specific polymorphism at only one place in their genes (heterozygous) had lower fertility than those that had it twice (homozygous).
- The team even calculated that the pregnancy rate per cycle for the heterozygous stallions was around 7% lower than for the homozygous ones.
- Thertfore, this research identifies a potential molecular genetic marker for fertility in stallions which could be used to improve breeding programs and stallion selection.
Cite This Article
APA
Hamann H, Jude R, Sieme H, Mertens U, Töpfer-Petersen E, Distl O, Leeb T.
(2007).
A polymorphism within the equine CRISP3 gene is associated with stallion fertility in Hanoverian warmblood horses.
Anim Genet, 38(3), 259-264.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2052.2007.01594.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding / methods
- DNA Mutational Analysis
- DNA Primers
- Fertility / genetics
- Gene Frequency
- Genotype
- Haplotypes / genetics
- Horses / genetics
- Models, Genetic
- Pedigree
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Seminal Plasma Proteins / genetics
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